Hit and Run Driver Arrested in Lebec

Image 1 of 5A mangled motorcycle in the middle of the northbound lane of Lebec Road, in front of the post office where, witnesses say, a white pickup truck pulled out in front of the motorcycle which was traveling northbound. [photo by The Mountain Enterprise]

Image 2 of 5Only a block away, on Circle Drive, the hit and run suspect's truck is examined while the suspect receives medical attention for injuries possibly sustained in the collision. [photo by The Mountain Enterprise]

Image 3 of 5CHP officers stand by as their fellow officer adjusts handcuffs on the suspect's wrists on Circle Drive. Kern County Fire Station 57 crew members provide medical aid to the suspect. [photo by The Mountain Enterprise]

Image 4 of 5Station 57 personnel provide medical aid to the hit and run suspect on Circle Drive. [photo by The Mountain Enterprise]

Image 5 of 5The scene on Lebec Road in front of Lebec Post Office after 4:30 p.m. [photo by The Mountain Enterprise]

LEBEC, CA (Friday, July 1, 2011 at 10 a.m.)–CHP has released its report on the hit and run collision which occurred yesterday on Lebec Road. The CHP report follows, edited for clarity:

On 6/30/2011 at approximately 4:15 p.m., in the town of Lebec, Lebec resident William L. Long, 51 was driving a Toyota pickup truck and pulled out onto Lebec Road from a private property parking lot near Circle Drive, directly into the path of travel of Lebec resident Elliott E. Green, 47 who was driving a Honda motorcycle northbound on Lebec Road. Green’s motorcycle struck the left side of the Toyota truck causing Green to be ejected from the motorcycle. Long immediately fled the scene in the Toyota truck and drove a short distance to Circle Drive, before parking the truck and fleeing on foot, leaving the truck abandoned. Witnesses coordinated with responding CHP officers and located Long hiding behind some nearby bushes a few moments later, not far from the scene. Long was arrested for felony hit and run and DUI. Green was airlifted to Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield for treatment of major injuries and Long was transported by ground ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Bakersfield for treatment of moderate injuries.

LEBEC, CA (Thursday, June 30, 2011 at 5:30 p.m.)–The driver of a white 2004 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck has been taken into custody on suspicion of hit and run driving after colliding with a motorcycle in front of the Lebec Post Office on Lebec Road.

California Highway Patrol received the report at 4:17 p.m. Radio traffic indicated that the driver of the truck had fled the scene, turning into the neighborhood of Circle Drive. Kern County Sheriff’s Deputy Steed, who was assisting CHP officers, reported that the subject was running on foot on Circle Drive. Deputy Steed and CHP officers gave chase and CHP officers took the suspect into custody.

The motorcycle driver was airlifted to a hospital. His condition was unknown at the time of this report.

The suspect was handcuffed and provided medical attention for his injuries, possibly caused by the airbag which deployed inside the truck on impact.

Witness Nick Taminich of Ventura was driving southbound on Lebec Road and saw the accident happen as the northbound motorcycle approached the area in front of the post office. "The white pickup pulled out of the parking lot (points to the post office), hesitated, then pulled right in front of the motorcycle driver. The motorcycle fishtailed as the driver tried to stop before the collision," Taminich said. "The motorcycle driver landed between the motorcycle and the truck. The guy in the truck then pulled forward onto the road, dragging the motorcycle driver along with the truck," he said.

The names of the suspect and the victim were unknown at the time this report was taken at the scene.

This is part of the June 24, 2011 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.